PLANADVISER - September/October 2018 - 36

Top-Rated Defined Contribution Plan Providers
METHODOLOGY: This August and September, approximately 15,000 advisers were asked
to respond to the 2018 PLANADVISER Retirement Plan Adviser Survey, developed by this
magazine's editorial and research teams. Survey questions pertained to the size and
scope of advisers' qualified plan business, practice management, compensation,
and client service, as well as their assessments of investment managers, mutual funds
and defined contribution (DC) plan providers. At the close of the survey, 352 complete
responses had been received from retirement plan advisers. To qualify to supply opinions
on mutual fund families and specific mutual funds, an adviser had to be personally
involved in evaluating and recommending fund choices in an advisory capacity to
qualified plan clients; 243 advisers met this criterion. To evaluate DC plan providers,
advisers had to answer affirmatively that, acting in an advisory role, they personally
evaluate and recommend these providers for qualified plan clients; 236 advisers did
so. In addition, an adviser needed to have worked with a DC plan provider more than
once for his favorability rating of that recordkeeper to count. For more information and
additional research available, please contact surveys@strategic-i.com.
Best Overall Service, Micro Plans (<$5mm) 168 votes
1 Empower Retirement
2 ADP Retirement Services
2 Ascensus
4 John Hancock Retirement Plan Services
4 Principal Financial Group
6 American Funds Distributors
7 Nationwide
7 Voya Financial
9 CUNA Mutual Group
9 Fidelity Investments
9 T. Rowe Price
9 The Vanguard Group, Inc.
14.9%
13.7%
13.7%
11.3%
11.3%
6.0%
4.2%
4.2%
2.4%
2.4%
2.4%
2.4%
Best Overall Service, Midsize Plans (>$50mm - $200mm) 150 votes
1 Fidelity Investments
2 Empower Retirement
3 Charles Schwab
3 Prudential Retirement
5 Principal Financial Group
5 MassMutual
5 Transamerica Retirement Solutions
5 Bank of America Merrill Lynch
9 T. Rowe Price
10 John Hancock Retirement Plan Services
35.3%
15.3%
8.0%
8.0%
4.0%
4.0%
4.0%
4.0%
3.3%
2.7%
Best Overall Service, Small Plans ($5mm - $50mm) 180 votes
1 Empower Retirement
2 Fidelity Investments
3 Principal Financial Group
4 John Hancock Retirement Plan Services
5 Voya Financial
6 Nationwide
7 The Vanguard Group, Inc.
8 ADP Retirement Services
8 MassMutual
8 Transamerica Retirement Solutions
8 Charles Schwab
26.1%
17.8%
11.1%
6.1%
5.6%
4.4%
2.8%
2.2%
2.2%
2.2%
2.2%
Best Overall Service, Large Plans (>$200mm - $1b) 121 votes
1 Fidelity Investments
2 Empower Retirement
3 Charles Schwab
3 T. Rowe Price
5 Transamerica Retirement Solutions
5 Bank of America Merrill Lynch
7 The Vanguard Group, Inc.
8 Principal Financial Group
8 Wells Fargo
8 TIAA
33.9%
14.9%
7.4%
7.4%
5.0%
5.0%
4.1%
3.3%
3.3%
3.3%
36 | planadviser.com September-October 2018

http://www.planadviserdigital.com/planadviser/september_october_2018/TrackLink.action?pageName=36&exitLink=mailto%3Asurveys%40strategic-i.com http://www.planadviserdigital.com/planadviser/september_october_2018/TrackLink.action?pageName=36&exitLink=http%3A%2F%2Fplanadviser.com

PLANADVISER - September/October 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of PLANADVISER - September/October 2018